Sheet tearing machine



June 1954 'R. L. SJOSTROM SHEET TEARING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1951 J 1954 R. L. SJOSTROM SHEET TEARING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1951 FIGA ; INVENTOR.

June 15, 1954 R, L. SJOSTROM SHEET TEARING MACHINE 7 sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 11, 195] INVENTR. 9 51216 1 S/osfikm L a a 7 Q r in in. .un. la. a? i a. L?

June 15, 1954 R. 1.. SJOSTROM SHEET TEARING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 11, I951 June 15, 1954 'R.. SJOSTROM 216815109 SHEET TEARING MACHINE Filed June 11; 195] 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGJZA.

T 95 INVENTOR.

Ro erf Q03 mo June 1954 R. L. sJosT'RoM 2,681,109

SHEET TEARING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGJII IN V EN TOR.

June 15, 1954 R. 1.. sJsTROM SHEET TEARING MACHINE '7 Sheets-She't 7 Filed June 11, 1951 Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES 'ATENT OFFICE 27 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a sheet nipping, tearing, and folding machine and more particularly to a machine for measuring a predetermined length of cloth and then tearing the same from a strip which is fed from a roll in a continuous process.

Sheets for beds and the like are commonly torn by hand. In the ordinary process the operator draws the desired length of sheet over the tearing table then makes a short cut in the sheet and tears the sheet along the cross threads, commonly known as the woof or weft.

The sheets as a rule are not cut entirely across because it is found that when they are inspected after such cutting across they have not been cut across along a cross thread but at a diagonal to the cross threads and therefore they are not cut across straight. As a rule the sheets are drawn on to the cuttin table, folded at least in one longitudinal fold so that the initial short cut is at the middle of the sheet and the tear then will extend in both directions to the side edges. The operator in cutting the sheets usually attempts -to cut the sheets so that there is no piece left over, and for this purpose a device known as a Perry table is used which consists simply of a series of parallel boards calibrated in a scale over which the cloth is drawn, so that when the operator sees that the end of the roll of cloth is at the beginning of the table, he may determine what lengths of sheets are to be torn (after a short cut) to use the entire remaining length on the table without havin a remnant left over. For instance he may decide to apportion the remaining cloth in two sheets of one length, five sheets of another length and three sheets of a third length and by notin the calibrations on the Perry table he is able to decide what length 01 sheets he must tear (after a short out).

It is quite obvious that in the manual method of tearing described above, considerable labor is involved and this is only in regard to measuring and tearin (after a short out). In addition to this the sheets must be properly folded and they should also be stacked in desired lots.

The purpose of the system of the present invention provides a complete automatic operation whereby sheets may automatically be initially cut with a short cut torn, folded, and then stacked if desired, and further provision is also made whereby the operator may by calculation after readin a scale decide the desired number of lengths of sheets in the end piece of a roll as it is drawn through the Perry table and then set an electronic or mechanical counting device for measuring automatically the desired lengths in which the pieces are to be torn (after a short out).

A further feature of the present invention is that the length of time of feeding of the desired length of cloth over a conveyor table is independent of the length of time necessary for tearing the sheet so that these two operations are conducted entirely independent one of the other.

In the system of the present invention, the feeding of the proper length of material by the conveyor system over the tearing table is begun after a preceding tearing operation has been completed and while certain elements or the tearer are be ing returned to initial operating positions. The

only requirement in this respect is that the time of feed of the sheet to its proper length over the tearing table is shorter than the time of return of the tearer elements from the end of the tearing action to their initial position.

The device of the present invention i adjusted so that no matter what the length the sheet is to be its travel is accomplished in substantially the same time interval which is well within the limits of the complete operating cycle .of tearing and returning to norma1 position.

In the present invention after a length of material is fed over the tearing table the feed automatically stops. The independent cycle of tearing is set in operation by a continuously reciprocatin endless chain or belt through a cam on the chain operating a tearing starting switch in a fixed position. The operation of the switch makes a cutter effect an initial short cut in the material and at the same time causes an element to hold the sheet on the roll side of the cut. Immediately thereafter a gripper picks up the sheet on the other side of the short out and commences the tear cross-wise to its end whereupon a second switch is operated to stop the tear travel and reverse or reciprocate the chain operation which begins a lengthwise fold of the sheet since the gripper still holds the cloth which is being torn.

Part way back in the travel of the chain, a thirdswitch is operated which releases the cloth held on the roll side or the cut and then a further switch is operated to commence a feed of a new sheet length over the table so that when the chain has returned to its initial position and is ready to be again reversed in direction of travel the feed of the new length of sheet will already have been completed.

The above is a general outline of the cutting and tearing operation and of the feed operation in the sequence in which the operation occurs.

3 In addition to this the machine provides a longitudinal fold as has been noted and also one or more transverse folds which will be described later.

An electronic measuring device of standard type may be used for feeding the desired lengths to be cut. The machine may be operated by one individual, and in fact an individual may operate more than one machine simultaneously with considerable ease since the only necessary regulation is that of deciding what length of sheets and in what number should be cut from the end length of the roll. For this purpose a seam detector is provided to detect the end of a continuous length of cloth. This seam detector will stop the feed when it is reached on the Perry table. The operator then sets the electronic 01' mechanical measurer for the desired numbers and lengths of sheets to be cut from the measured cloth as indicated on the Perry table and then after this has been finished he will again set the computor for the desired sheet length on the new roll being fed to the cutting table.

The apparatus and its method of operation will be more fully described in the specification set forth below when taken in connection with the drawings illustrating an embodiment of the same, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with certain details omitted for simplification.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a front portion of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the feeder rolls and a section of the moving belt, not shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the construction of the forward reciprocating endless chain controlling the cycle of operation of the system.

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially along lines 66 of Figure 1 showing the construction of the rear reciprocating endless chain and other details.

Figure 7 shows an enlarged fragmentary detail of Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows an elevation of the detail shown in Figure 7 taken substantially along the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the detail shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of Figure 4.

Figure 12 shows a fragmentary view in perspective of a detail of the emergency stop system for the apparatus.

Figure 120. shows a fragmentary view in perspective a further detail of the emergency stop system for the apparatus.

Figure 13 shows an enlarged perspective view of a detail shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 shows a perspective View of the control box for operating the sheet feed, and

Figure 15 shows a detail of the folding rolls shown in part in Figure 3.

Figure 16 shows in side elevation somewhat diagrammatically the arrangement for folding various sheet lengths in double transverse folds.

In the drawings referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the sheet is fed to the tearing machine in the direction of the arrow A (Figures land 2), over the roll I, on to a table 2.

The material as it comes on to the table is already folded once longitudinally and the top portion of the fold passes over the plate 3 with the fold section running along the curved end 4 (see Figure 4) of the plate. The sheet material then comes between two similar feed rollers 5 which are geared together at their ends by two sets of spur gears 6 and I which mesh together at each end of the pair of rollers 5. This pair of rollers 5, 5 is accurately driven and grips the cloth so that there is no slip. For this purpose the rollers 5 are covered with a cork, roughened friction cloth, or other material suitable for feeding the cloth without slipping. The pair of rollers 5 beyond the meshing gears 6 and l have short shafts I l, by means of which they are supported in side brackets 8 and 9. The top portions I5 and H; of these side brackets 8 and 9, which are mounted upright on the longitudinal beams I 0 and H, have at their top, U-shaped channel slots [3. In these U-shaped slots, the short extension I4 of the top shaft rests. (See Figure 4.) These U-shaped shaft slots as indicated in Figure 4 are channeled in section and the shaft extensions M are provided with collars I! which may be moved up and down in the channel and the slots by means of a cam I8 operated by a hand lever 19. This is only used when it is desired to raise the upper roll away from the cloth. The lower of the pair of rolls 5 is fixed in bearings 20 (se Figure 1), in the side brackets. At the left end of the machine as seen in Figure 2, the lower spur gear I is driven by means of a sprocket chain 2 I, which in turn is driven by the motor 22. The speed is accurately controlled by the electronic control box 23 (Figure 14). The motor 22 also drives a sprocket chain 24 which turns the sprocket wheel or gear 25 and which in turn drives the upwardly extending sprocket chain 25 (see Figure 1) which extends over a sprocket wheel 2'! driving the initial feed roll i, so that the feed drawn by the intermeshing rolls 5 and the feed drawn by the roll 1 are simultaneously controlled in speed. Extending forwardly of the pair of rollers 5, is the roll 23 (Figure 4), which is the conveyor drive roll. This roll is mounted in a bearing supported on the side beams I 0 and H of the frame and is driven by the sprocket chain 29 which meshes with a spur gear 30 at one end of the conveyor drive 28. The roll 28 may have a slightly higher linear speed than the feed rolls so that the conveyor belts 31 which continue to move the sheet in a forward direction will maintain a slight tension on the sheet tending to keep it drawn somewhat tautly. The sheet material continues to be drawn by the conveyor belts 31 into a tearing position. The feeding rolls 5 and belts 3! are set to feed the desired sheet length after which the tearing which will be presently explained, takes place.

Referring more specifically to Figure 3, the sheet is fed by the conveyors in the direction of the arrow A until it lies in a position where the length of material on the conveyor beyond the chain 32 which lies beneath the cross support 33 (see Figure 5) is the selected sheet length.

The chain 32 is an endless chain which is supported by spur gears 34 and 35 mounted on each side of the frame. The spur gear 35 is driven by a shaft 36 (see Figure 5), which in turn has mounted on it a spur gear 31 driven by the sprocket chain 38 over the sprocket gear 39 which in turn is driven by the longitudinally extending shaft 4!]. (See Figures 1 and 4.) The shaft 40 is turned through a clutch M which is driven through the main drive sprocket chain 42 powered by the motor 43 (Figure 1) which is turned independently of the drive of the feed motor 22 previously mentioned.

The cross chain 32 carries a number of switch operating cams as well as the tearing mouse. These elements together carry through the sequence of nipping the sheet and performing the other necessary elements of operation in the complete cycle in which the chain is driven, first in one direction and then in the other direction.

All the switches indicated in Figure 5, operate only in one direction. They can be set for either direction of operation if that is necessary. The chain 32 carries a switch operating arm a, and mounted on the frame are two switches a and b. When the arm a, comes in contact with the switch a, moving as the chain moves in the direction of the arrow B, the solenoid M operates to bring down the nipping blade 45 and at the same time operate the gripping plate 46 (see Figure 10) to hold the cloth against the plate 4'! on the feed table. As the chain continues to move in the direction of the arrow B, a gripper plate 58 of the mouse (Figures 5, 9 and 10) snaps closed as its roller 49 runs out from under the guide plate 513'. As this action occurs, the gripper arm or plate 48 comes up against the opposing gripper plate 50 so that the cloth is held between the plates 58 and 55 as this whole assembly is carried by the chain 32 across the table. This assembly will be described later.

It is first desired to indicate the sequence of the various operations brought about by the motion of the chain in both directions.

When the operating arm on the chain 32 reaches the operating switch 0, the tearing mouse has completed the tearing of the cloth transversely. It of course should be noted that the various operating switches for the initial nipping and holding may be adjusted in position transversely across the table to include differing widths of cloth which may be used on the machine. As the arm 0' comes in contact with the switch 0, the chain drive is stopped in the direction of the arrow B and reversed in its drive to drive the chain in the direction or" the arrow D. The tearing mouse which is still gripping the cloth begins to swing back in the opposite direction of travel, thereby making a longitudinal fold in the sheet. The gripper however releases at the trap in a position when the longitudinal fold is completed.

During the time in which the chain moved in the direction of the arrow B, the switch cam arm I) progressed beyond the position of the switch b at the side of the table where the nipping of the cloth takes place. As the arm b returns, it passes over the switch b which operates only in one direction and causes the release of the cloth by the holding plate 46. In the same backward movement the arm 0 also strikes the switch (1 which also is operated in one direction. When this occurs which is just subsequent to the operation of the switch b by the cam arm I), the cloth feeding rolls 5 (Figure 3) begin the accurate feed of the cloth over the conveyor belt. As the chain continues to move in the direction of the arrow D, the operating cam comes in contact with the switch f which again reverses the direction of drive of the chain and commences the new cycle, the beginning of which has already been described.

Between the time interval beginning when the 6. cam arm 0' operates the switch d tothe time when the cam arm 1 operates the reversing switch f, the necessary feed of the sheet length takes place. The feed is set for the desired cloth length, which may be anywhere from the vicinity of to 108", and this occurs approximately always in the same time interval, the electric or mechanical measuring mechanism having therefore a slightly higher speed for the longer sheet feeds than for the shorter feeds.

In the electric control device (Figure 14) the length is set by the indicator 52 and the number of sheets to be measured off on that length by the adjusting counter 53. While an electric measuring unit is in some instances preferable, the same results may be accomplished by a measuring cam and counter which will provide the correct number of turns for the feeding rolls 5. If the counter arm 53' is put to the off position, the sheet feeding will continue for any number of operations. In this case the seam detector is used at the edge of the table so that as the seam joining the two successive sections or rolls of cloth comes in contact with the seam detector K, the circuit to the feed motor will stop and the whole system will be shut down until the operator properly sets the control box 23 for the desired number of sheets to be cut of the desired length. This enables the operator to use up the exact amount or" material in the Perry table up to the seam.

At the left end of the machine as viewed in Figure 5 and at the right in Figures 9 and 1.0, the sprocket wheel over which the chain 32 rides, is supported by an upright beam 54 to which the bearing bracket 55 is fixed. This chain as seen in Figures 9 and 10, carries the tearing mouse assembly 5-6 which is fixed to a supporting bracket 5'! attached to the chain which bracket has an upwardly extending supporting bar 58 which rides in a channel 59 supported by an upright bracket Ell from the top cross supporting beam 33.

Extending from the supporting bracket 51 is a downwardly projecting support 5! to which the gripper plate 50 is attached. Attached to this bracket member BI is an angle member 52 of Figure 9, to which is pivoted the plate '38. The plate 48 has attached at its rear end, two short bars 63, spanned by a supporting cross bar (54 to which a spring 55 is attached at one end, the other end of which presses against the inner face of a cross plate 66 which is a part of the supporting element 6|. The spring 65 actually goes around a rod 61 which is somewhat loosely supported in the cross bar 64 and in the plate 56. This spring normally exerts a pressure between its two supporting ends so that when the roller 49 is free, which occurs after it has travelled past the guide 50, the trap door 68 and the continuing short plate 69, the roller 49 and its support ing arms H1 which projects at right angles from the arm 63 swings upward about the pivoting shaft H (see Figure 9) of the plate 48. This action automatically brings the gripping plate 48 into engagement of the plate 50. The plate 48 as it is carried along in its open position, travels beneath the table 4! along the cut out section 12 before it begins to swing upward. In this position beneath the table 41 it travels beneath the edge of the sheet. The sheet as it is fed over the table has its side edge running through the clamping plates 46 and under the cutting knife i5.

As indicated in the position in Figure 9, the plate 48 which picks up the edge of the cut sheet is to a position at the right of the cutting arm 45 as its movement in the tearing cycle begins. This assure the proper operation of the machine inasmuch as the end of the tearing mouse plate 48 is off of the sheet before the tearing cycle begins. By the time the plate 43 has travelled inward, that is in a direction towards the left in Figures 9 and 10, it has already raised the edge of the sheet and by the time that the roller 39 passes beyond the plate 69 it is in a position to pick up the sheet and hold it against the plate 59, while the clamping plates 46 on the other side of the cut hold the other side of the material down on the table.

The support for the tearing mouse, may if desired, be formed as a link in the chain 32. The upright extending bar 58 which moves in a slot 73 in the channel 59 is provided with a roller 74 which moves on inwardly extending flanges of the channel 59. The holding plate or runners as as will be seen from Figures 9 and 10, are inclined upwards at their ends I5. On a level with this section 50 are the hinged traps 68 which are spring tensioned upwards by means of the springs 18, only one of which is shown in Figure 10. The guide plates 58', the trap door 68 and the fixed plate 69 are all permanently supported from a bracket or arm ll extending from the upright 3.

In the return cycle of the tearing mouse, it will be closed as it hits the inclined section 3'5 of the plate, but the rollers will slide along the underside of the inclination 15 through the traps 68 which open downward and jaws will open up as the rollers 39 continue under the sections 56 of the guide plate. However it should be noted that the gripper of the cloth is also opened as it passes through the trap 51 in the return direction. In the tear direction, the direction of the arrow B, the roller 49 will come in contact with the pivoted plate 18 which is held in its upward position by the spring '19 one end of which is attached to the lever 80 which is pivoted to move with the plate 18. In this forward direction the roller 49 simply pushes the plate 78 downward and continues moving to the right as viewed in Figure 5. However in the reverse direction, that is the direction of the arrow D, the roller Q9 comes up against the rear side of the plate 78 which cannot swing further because of the pin 8| and therefore the rollers 49 travel downward under the guide plate 82 which opens the gripper jaws and drops the edge of the cloth. This occurs after the longitudinal fold has been made as has been previously mentioned.

The switch I; on its return also operates the switch e if the feed motor has not been set by the control box. This is on so called dry runs and is in effect a safety measure. The system is also provided however with a mechanical safety device which will be explained.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, it was noted that the drive for the cross endless chain was by the motor as, which drives the chain 42 and through it the rotary clutch 4!. The clutch ll normally rotates freely on the shaft 4!} which extends along the side of the machine (see Figures 1, l2 and 13), from the forward chain drive mechanism to the rear chain drive mechanism. This shaft it is mounted at the side of the machine against three upright supporting beams 83, 8t and 85 in three bearing supports 85, 3'! and 35. The driving chain Q2 turns the spur gear 89 which carries the hub 96 of the clutch concentrio with the shaft is. A clutch collar 9 3, Figures 12 and 13, is also mounted on the shaft 40 but keyed to it so that it turns with the shaft while movable longitudinally with it. This collar is provided with a circular groove 92 in which a yoke 93 projects, which yoke projects from a vertically extending collar 94 on the upwardly projecting rod or bar 95 to which it is attached or joined. The collar 9! is provided with a recessed sector 96 and the free hub 93 provided with a finger 91 which is of such a size that it may lock into the recess 96 when the collar 9! is slid along the shaft 40 to which it is keyed.

It will be seen further that the shaft ti! will not turn unless the clutch collar meshes with the hub of the clutch. The upwardly extending bar or shaft 95 is journalled in bearings es projecting from an upright position of the plate 99. The bar 55 at its upper end, has attached to it a cap IOU which supports a horizontally extending handle tilt, the inner end 182 of which is positioned adjacent the chain 32. This arm hi2 provides a safety device which when struck by the bearing mouse 55 will open the clutch and therefore stop the drive. The clutch may also be operated manually by the handle H33 at the other end of the lever lill. When the shaft 95 is turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 13, it is clear that the clutch will be disengaged from the shaft it.

The shaft ill also drives the spur gear HM, Figure 12, which drives the chain I55 and which in turn turns the gear Hi5 driving the shaft till mounted on the rear end of the machine in the hearing lat? projecting from the support or bracket 509. This is the drive for the rear end chains of the machine which are synchronized with the drive on the forward end of the machine. The drive on the rear end chains of the machine is also provided with a link system to operate the clutch M. This comprises the upwardly extending arm i la which is pivoted to brackets mounted on the inside of the upright support 85, and which at its top end is provided with an arm H2 adapted to be engaged by operating element H3 on the rear endless chain H3 corresponding to the endless chain 32 at the front end of the machine.

The vertically journalled bar or shaft H6 is linked to a horizontally extending rod Hi (see Figures 12 and i3) which is forked at its end and linked with a bar H5 fixed to the shaft 95. The operation therefore of the arm H2 will also operate the clutch to disengage the crossdriving endless chains.

As indicated more clearly in Figures 3 and 3, at the rear of the machine, two endless chains similar to the chain 32, are provided, comprising the chain H3 and the chain H5. Both of these chains are operated simultaneously and move also in synchronism with the chain 32. The chain i It passes over the sprocket gears ill and H8, Figure 6, which are mounted on horizontal shafts, one of which, the shaft till is driven by the sprocket gear H36, Figure 12. The other sprocket gear i H is journalled in the supporting shaft i 19 which is on the same side of the table as the place where the nipping of the sheet takes place. The two chains H3 and I it carry a pair of gripper jaws which serve in a similar capacity as the tearing mouse 5% on the forward chain 32, except that no tearing is done by them because the sheet is being torn by the mouse 56 on chain 32. The details of this structure on the rear set of chains is shown in Figures 3, 6, 7, and 8.

Referring more particularly to Figures 7 and 8', the machine is provided with a transverse channel guide bar I29 between the position of the chains I I3 and I I6. Both of these chains are operated simultaneously and move also in synchronism with the chain 32. The chain I I 6 passes over the sprocket gears Ii! and II 8, Figure 6, which are mounted on horizontal shafts, one of which is the shaft it"; which is driven by the sprocket gear I36, Figure 12. The other sprocket gear I I1 is journalled in the supporting shaft E H! which is on the same side of the table as the place where the nipping of the sheets takes place. The two chains H3 and IE3 carry a pair of gripper jaws which serve in a similar capacity as the tearing mouse 56 on the forward chain 32, except that no tearing is done by them because the sheet is being torn by the mouse 53 on chain 32. The details of this structure on the rear set of chains is shown in Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8.

Referring more particularly to Figures '7 and 8, the machine is provided with a transverse channel guide bar I20 between the position of the chains H3 and HS. This channel guide bar is shown in section in Figure 8. It has a slot at the bottom with inwardly extending flanges in which a pair of rollers I2 I ride, supporting a downwardly extending bar I22 to which a plate I23 is attached (Figure 8), which plate is also supported and attached to the chains H6 and H3. This plate rides over the sheet on the table whereas the gripping fingers I24 of which there are three, are in their open position and inclined and eX- tended downwardly into a slot in the table similar to the slot 12 at the front end of the machine. The fingers I24 are all supported and tied together by a cross rod or bar I25 and the whole assembly is pivoted in a bearing in the arm I23 at the pivot point I21, the arm I26 being supported over the plate I23 to which it is rigidly attached and extending somewhat beyond. The gripper finger assembly which is pivoted at it! has fixed to it an angle piece I28 which at its other end is provided with a roller I29 which travels under the guide angle I30, see Figure 7. A spring I35 is mounted to exert pressure to force the gripper fingers I24 against the plate E23 when the roller :23 is released from beneath the angle guide plate I39. This occurs similarly as in the case of the forward gripper when the roller HES passes beyond the plate I32. At this point the rolier flies upward and the gripper fingers I24 come in contact with the gripper plate 523 to hold the cloth tightly. When therefore the mouse begins to move across the table, the jaws of the gripper close shortly after the beginning of its motion.

While the front clutch arm 532 which disengages the chains from their drive is operated, if the tearing mouse should go beyond the desired travel in the tearing portion of the cycle, the rear operating clutch arm H2 (see Figure 6 and Figure 12) is at the top of the chain H6 and is operated by the projecting bar I33, Figure 6, if the mouse has returned beyond its desired travel. Protection is therefore afforded for travel in what might be called both the forward and the reverse direction of the chain motion.

During the so called forward motion across the cutting table, the rear mouse assembly will remain closed all the way across the table as the roller I23 will ride through the second trap I34, Figure 3, and therefore carry the edge of the cloth over to the opposite side of the machine and then draw it backwards to make with the mouse a full length longitudinal fold after tearing. On its return journey the roller E29 will hit the inclined plate I35 of the trap thereby forcing the roller I29 downward and opening up the 1%) gripper so that the edge of the cloth will be released and it will be deposited on the cutting table.

When the mouse on the front chain 32 and that of the rear chain H3 and H3 have gripped the sheet, turned it and dragged it transversely across the table, it will have been removed from the conveyor belts 3I (see Figure 3) and deposited upon the other section or half I35 of the table. This position will be over the folding rolls and beneath the tucking blades positioned over the section I36 of the table. The sheet will be drawn completely across the table :by the two travelling mice so that a fold will occur approximately in the region of the dotted line E; (see Figure 3) as the mice are reversed in the direction by the switches previously described and finally the ends of the sheet will be released when the mice pass through the traps BI and I34 which are in the position shown in Figure 3. The sheet is fed with one longitudinal fold already in it so that the additional fold made on section I33 of the table will provid the sheets with four folds which means that a sheet of approximately 72" wide will now be folded with a cross width of only 18". The table I33 may be provided with strips l3? having a rough surface extending transversely across it. In the general center of section I33 of the table, there are positioned three sets of folding rolls. These are shown more clearly in Figure 15. These rolls comprise a pair, I38, a second pair i339 and a third pair I40. Since the sheet is always turned at the same place, the position in these folding rolls may be accurately determined so that the sheets may be folded in halves.

As viewed in Figure 15, the forward end of the sheet will extend in the direction of the arrow F and the rear of the sheet in th direction of the arrow G. The first pair of rolls i158 is at a position where the shortest length to be cut is folded in the middle, for instance while the position of the rolls I43 may be that where the longest sheet is to be folded by a middle fold.

Each pair of rolls I38, I39 and I40, is provided with a tucking blade I4I, I42 and I43 respectively. These tucking blades are operated each by its own solenoids I44, I45 and I43, respectively, acting through arms I41, I48 and I49 respectively, attached to shafts I41, I43 and I49, which pivot the blades I4!, I42 and I43. Each solenoid is controlled by the switch 52 which when set, chooses for operation one of the three tucking blades. A switch I53, see Figure 3, is provided along the frame adjacent the chain 33 and this is operated when the mouse passes by it after it releases the cloth either by itself, the switch cam 19, or some other suitably positioned cam to bring about the operation of one of the solenoids M4, I45 or I43 to bringdown the selected tucking blade to send the sheet through one pair of the rollers.

As the sheets pass down through the rolls, they are guided by guides I5! and I52 and made to pass vertically downward (see Figure 16) in front of a pair of folding rolls I53 and I54 within a U-shaped guide I55 which has at its lower end a switch I53 which has an operating arm I51 which operates one of the contacts in the dotted and full line positions shown. These contacts are selected by the same control 52 for the selected sheet length to be folded. The opera ,tion of the switch Hit energizes the solenoid I58 which operates the tucking arm I59 to force the sheet between the rolls I53 and I54. When the sheet has passed between these rolls it runs over the conveyor belt ISO to a stacker, not shown. which is positioned just beyond the end of the conveyor belt at the top of Figure 3, on the right side of the machine.

Figure 1 indicates the drive for the folding rolls I38, I39, I48, I53 and S54 and the conveyor belt I60. The driving motor for these rolls and also the conveyor I55 is the motor I6! which drives a sprocket chain I62, Figure 1, which in turn drives the gear I63, driving a chain IE4. The chain I64 extends around a sprocket roll I65 for driving the forward conveyor roll I53 and continues upward to drive the rolls I38 and I39. The sprocket chain I54 then passes under the idler I65 and over a sprocket wheel I56 to drive the pair of rolls I46 and then continues downward driving the sprocket gear l5! and thereafter passes over the drive sprocket I63 previously mentioned. The sprocket gear 151 drives through a separate chain I68, the upper roll I54 of the pair which make the final fold in the sheet.

As has been previously mentioned, the feed of the sheet material through the feed rolls 5, is a measured length which is adjusted from the control box 23. A standard electronic measuring system may be provided by an accurate count of the revolutions and part thereof travelled by the rolls 5. This may be accomplished in a number of ways, as for instance by a geared counting system, by accurate speed control and a timing element, or the system may be operated mechanically by a mechanical cam by means of which the linear distance of the surface of the rolls 5 is accurately established. The present invention does not relate to the means per se providing the accurate measuring and any standard system may be used for this purpose.

In the present system a seam detector may be used on a Perry table as the cloth enters the Perry table. If a seam is detected, that is a cross-wise seam, the feed mechanism and also the cross-wise mechanism of travel of the chains are stopped. This gives the operator a chance to look at the Perry table and decide what lengths of sheets he wishes to make the rest of the sheet in the table between the seam and the cutting blade. For this purpose he will consult the Perry table which will give him a figure as to i how many sheets, 90" long; how many 100" long, etc., which he might make in order to economically use the entire sheet length up to the seam. He will therefore set the control shown in Figure 14 for these figures, first setting the indicator 52 for the desired sheet length and then setting the indicator 53 for the number to be cut at that length. The machine will be stopped by these control switches when the number has been cut and then he will set them for the next length and number to be cut and so on until the remaining lengths up to the seam have been entirely accounted for.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material intermittently in selected lengths over a fiat surface, in a lengthwise direction, means at one side of the strip for nipping the material to be torn, means adjacent the last mentioned means for holding the material to the flat sur-- face on one side of the nip only, means on the other side of the nip for gripping and tearing the material crosswise of the strip, and means coordinated with the last named means for initiating the operation of the feed in selected lengths.

2. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising means for feeding a strip of material intermittently in selected lengths over a fiat surface, in a lengthwise direction, means on one side of the stri for nipping the material to be torn, means for holding to the fiat surface the material on the feed side of the nip only and means for gripping and tearing on the end of the strip adjacent the nip crosswise of the strip.

3. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed and means for tearing the sheets and making a lengthwise fold in the torn sheet in a osition offset laterally from the conveyor belt whereby the following length of strip may be fed while the fold is being made.

4. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet and making a lengthwise fold in the torn sheet in a position ofiset laterally from the conveyor belt and means controlled by the tearing means for initiating the operation of the feeding means.

5. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet and making a lengthwise fold therein in a position offset laterally from the conveyor belt and means operated by said last mentioned means during the making of the lengthwise fold for initiating the operation of the feeding means.

6. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet and making a lengthwise fold in the torn sheet on a position offset laterally from the conveyor belt, a set of folding rolls positioned directly beneath the position of the lengthwise folded sheet occupied but crosswise of the same, means to force the sheet in a crosswise fold between said folding rolls, and means for receiving said crosswise folded sheet.

'7. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet on a position offset laterally from the conveyor belt, a set of folding rolls positioned directly beneath the position of the lengthwise folded sheet occupied but cross ise of the same, means to force the sheet in a crosswise fold between said folding rolls and means for receiving said crosswise folded sheet, includ ing conveyor means for carrying away said folded sheet.

8. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet and making a lengthwise fold in the torn sheet on a position offset laterally from the conveyor belt, a set of folding rolls positioned directly beneath the position of the lengthwise folded sheet occupied but crosswise of the same, means to force the sheet in a crosswise fold between said folding rolls, means for guiding the folded sheet after it passes through said folding rolls, a second set of crosswise folding rolls before which said guide directs said already crosswise folded sheet, means operative to force said sheet in a second crosswise fold and conveyor means positioned to receive said sheet after said second crosswise fold for carrying the same away.

9. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals ona conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet and making a lengthwise fold in the torn sheet on a position offset laterally from the conveyor belt, a plurality of sets of parallel folding rolls positioned at spaced intervals directly beneath the position the lengthwise folded sheet occupies, but crosswise of the same, means to force the sheet in a crosswise fold through one of said sets of parallel folding rolls, and means for receiving said crosswise folded sheet.

10. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet and making a lengthwise fold in the torn sheet on a position offset laterally from the conveyor belt, a plurality of sets of a parallel folding rolls positioned at spaced intervals directly beneath the position the lengthwise folded sheet occupies, but crosswise of the same, a tucking blade positioned over each pair of rolls and over the sheet, means preselected according to the length of the sheet for operating one of the desired tucking blades to force the sheet into a crosswise fold with its corresponding pair of folding rolls and means for receiving said crosswise folded sheet.

11. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet and making a lengthwise fold in the torn sheet on a position offset laterally from the conveyor belt, a plurality of sets of parallel folding rolls positioned at spaced intervals directly beneath the position the lengthwise folded sheet occupies, but crosswise of the same, means to force the sheet in a crosswise fold through one of said sets of parallel folding rolls,

a further set of crosswise folding rolls, means guiding the sheet before said further set of crosswise folding rolls and means operative when the end of said folded sheet has reached a preselected position for forcing the sheet between said further set of folding rolls to effect a further crosswise fold in a desired place across said sheet.

12. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, and means for nipping the material along a side edge of the feed, means for tearing the sheet and making a lengthwise fold in the torn sheet on a position offset laterally from the conveyor belt, a plurality of sets of parallel folding rolls positioned at spaced intervals directly beneath the position the lengthwise folded sheet occupies, but crosswise of the same, means to force the sheet in a crosswise fold through one of said sets of parallel folding rolls, a further set of crosswise folding rolls, means guiding the sheet before said further set of crosswise folding rolls and means operative when the end of said folded sheet has reached a preselected position for forcing the sheet between said further set of folding rolls to effect a further crosswise fold in a desired place across said sheet, said last means having a plurality of operating positions corresponding one to each one of said first mentioned plurality of sets of parallel folding rolls.

13. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, means for nipping and holding the material along one side of the same and means for gripping the material adjacent the point of nipping and tearing the material cross wise of the strip during said periodically spaced intervals including an endless chain having a section positioned crosswise over the strip, means for reciprocating the chain across the strip including driving means for the same and means controlled by the chain in its movement at selected places for reversing said driving means.

14. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, means for nipping and holding the material along one side of the same and means for gripping the material adjacent the point of nipping and tearing the material cross- Wise of the strip during said periodically spaced intervals including an endless chain having a section positioned crosswise over the strip, means for reciprocating the chain across the strip including driving means for the same and means controlled by the chain in its movement at selected places for reversing said driving means, for bringing about the operation of said nipping means and for initiating the operation of said feeding means.

15. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising means for feeding a strip of material during periodically spaced intervals on a conveyor belt lengthwise of the strip in predetermined lengths, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the position of said feed strip, a close tensioned tearing mouse carried by said endless chain, means opening said tearing mouse at one side of the strip for permitting it to grip the strip at the edge, means operated by said chain when the tearing mouse is at a preselected position for nipping and holdthe side of the strip, a driving means for said endless chain and means operated by said endless chain at selected positions for reversing the driving means and for initiating the operation of said feeding means.

16. In a means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, means for feeding the continuous strip on a conveyor belt, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the conveyor belt above the strip, a normally closed tearing mouse carried by said endless chain, means for opening said tearing mouse and permitting it to grip the material at one edge thereof, means for opening said tearing mouse to release the material at a preselected position of the endless chain and means for causing the endless chain to reciprocate back and forth over the conveyor belt.

17. In a means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, means for feeding the continuous strip on a conveyor belt, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the conveyor belt above the strip, a normally closed tearing mouse carried by said endless chain, means for opening said tearing mouse and permitting it to grip the material at one edge thereof, means for opening said tearing mouse to release the material at a preselected position of the endless chain and means for causing the endless chain to reciprocate back and forth over the conveyor belt, said tearing mouse having two relatively pivoted jaws and means fixed in position with respect to said endless chain and said tearing mouse for causing the jaws to open at preselected places over the conveyor belt.

18. In a means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, means for feeding the continuous strip on a conveyor belt, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the conveyor belt above the strip, a normally closed tearing mouse carried by said endless chain, means for opening said tearing mouse and permitting it to grip the material at one edge thereof, means for opening said tearing mouse to release the material at a preselected position of the endless chain and means for causing the endless chain to reciprocate back and forth over the conveyor belt, said tearing mouse having a jaw fixed with respect to said endless chain and a jaw pivoted in an axis parallel to the strip, means for opening said pivoted jaw at a position off the side of the strip, said pivoted jaw being suificiently long to extend in said position below the strip whereby when the tearing mouse moves over the strip the jaw in closing will pick up the strip at the side edge and hold it while tearing takes place.

19. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising means for feeding a strip of material including a plurality of feed rolls through which the material is fed, a conveyor belt, a common driving source, means for oper-- ating said feed rolls and conveyor belt, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the conveyor belt above the strip, means for driving the same, a nipping means at the side of the strip, means carried by said chain for tearing said strip crosswise thereof, cam means positioned on said chain and switch means positioned adjacent thereto and operated thereby for causing said chain to reciprocate in its movement for periodically initiating the operation of said feed and for operating said nipping means.

20. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip, comprising means for feeding a strip of material including a plurality of feed rolls through which the material is fed, a conveyor belt, a common driving source, means for operating said feed rolls and conveyor belt, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the conveyor belt above the strip, means for driving the same, a nipping means at the side of the strip, means carried by said chain for tearing said strip crosswise thereof, cam means positioned on said chain and switch means positioned adjacent thereto for operating in sequence reversal motion of said endless chain, holding and nipping 0f the strip at the side edge, gripping and tearing said sheet crosswise, reversal of motion of said endless chain, releasing of said holding means, initiating of operation of said feed, releasing of said gripping means, and finally reversal of motion of said endless chain.

21. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising means for feeding a strip of ma-- terial in selected lengths including a pair of feed rolls and a conveyor belt, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the conveyor belt above the strip, means for driving the endless chain in reciprocal movement and means operated by said endless chain at a selected position for initiating the operation of the feed for the selected length.

22. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising means for feeding a strip of material in selected lengths including a pair of feed rolls and a conveyor belt, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the conveyor belt above the strip, means for driving the endless chain in reciprocal movement and means operated by said endless chain at a selected position for initiating the operation of the feed for the selected length, and safety means controlled by positions of the endless chain beyond the normal limit of its motion for disconnecting said driving means.

23. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising means for feeding a strip of material in selected lengths including a pair of feed rolls and a conveyor belt, an endless chain having a section positioned over and across the conveyor belt above the strip, means for driving the endless chain in reciprocal movement and means operated by said endless chain at a selected position for initiating the operation of the feed for the selected length, and safety means controlled by positions of the endless chain beyond the normal limit of its motion for mechanically disconnecting said driving means.

24. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising a table having a conveyor belt passing over the same and a pair of feed rolls at one end for feeding a selected length of cloth to the conveyor belt, means reciprocating crosswise over the strip in a position adjacent the feed rolls, a tearing mouse carried by said reciprocating means, means for making the tearing mouse pick up and grip the strip when it is at one side of the strip and proceeding over the strip, means for making the tearing mouse release the strip at a point in its movement in the opposite direction and means operated by said reciprocating means for cutting and holding the edge of said strip on the other side of the tearing mouse prior to tearing and for causing the initiation of the operation of said feed rolls for feeding the selected length of cloth.

25. Means for tearing sheets from a continuous strip comprising a table having a conveyor belt passing over the same and a pair of feed rolls at one end for feeding a selected length of cloth to the conveyor belt, a plurality of crosswise reciprocating means driven synchronously, one said means at a position corresponding to 

